Black shama | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Muscicapidae |
Genus: | Copsychus |
Species: | C. cebuensis |
Binomial name | |
Copsychus cebuensis (Steere, 1890) | |
Synonyms | |
Kittacincla cebuensis |
The Black shama (Copsychus cebuensis) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the island of Cebu, Philippines where it is known locally as "Siloy".
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest, tropical moist shrubland, and plantations. It has been sighted in several locations all across the island, the most important sites being the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, the forests of Alcoy and Argao, and the shrublands of Casili, Consolacion. It is threatened by habitat loss.
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland forest, bamboo, and scrub on Cebu, where it has a preference for valley bottoms. Male is entirely black with a glossy sheen, where the female is sooty gray with a rusty belly. Catches insects on the ground, in the undergrowth, or even on the wing. There are no other species of similar shape and size on Cebu. Song is a series of long, slightly out of tune, often quavering whistles." [2]
Stomach contents of species contained beetles. This species is believed to be an insectivore. Usually seen in pairs foraging close to the forest floor or thickets with a lot of tangled vines.
Breeding season is February to September. Nest is cup shaped and typically found in bamboo. Lays to 2 to 3 eggs. [3]
Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland primary forest and secondary forests . It is also seen in clearings and plantations as long as there is dense undergrowth. [4] An ongoing radio-tracking study found that the breeding territory in forest-edge habitats was 0.2-0.5 km2.
The IUCN Red List formerly classified this bird as an endangered species with population estimates of 670 to 3,300 mature individuals with the belief that its population is near the lower estimate of that range. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of legal and illegal logging, mining and conversion into farmlands through Slash-and-burn and urbanization. Cebu underwent severe deforestation in the 1890s and now just 0.03% or 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi) of forest cover remains. Up until today, the forests of Cebu still receive hunting pressure and deforestation — further reducing what little there is remaining.
In 2023, this species was downlisted to a least-concern species based on a new estimate of 10,000 to 16,500 birds and an apparent tolerance for secondary habitat. However, this estimate assumes as many as 350 birds per square kilometer in Alcoy. These figures are in urgent need of more study
This has led to many other species sharing its range to also be endangered. It shares habitat with the Cebu flowerpecker, which is one of the most endangered birds in the world and also other endangered species such as the Cebu brown dove, Cebu hawk-owl and Streak-breasted bulbul. This has led to many local extinctions of species such as Cebu warty pig and possibly Cebu amethyst brown dove and local extinctions of Philippine oriole, Blackish cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied cuckooshrike and Philippine hanging parrot. [5]
The black shama occurs in Alcoy, Argao, Dalaguete, Tabunan and Boljoon protected forests, but actual protection and enforcement is lax.
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The Cebu flowerpecker is a small passerine bird. It is endemic to Cebu Island in the Philippines. Feared to have become extinct early in the 20th century, it was rediscovered in 1992 in a small patch of limestone forest in the Central Cebu Protected Landscape. It has since been found at three other sites, namely the Nug-as forest of Alcoy, Mount Lantoy of Argao and the forests of Dalaguete. This four-colored bird normally grows to 11 or 12 centimeters. The male is characterized by a large, triangular, scarlet to vermilion coat stain. In the female, the top is brown. The Cebu flowerpecker consumes small fruits and mistletoe plants and is generally active in the mornings to avoid competition with more aggressive birds. Despite attempts to protect its habitat it remains critically endangered due to illegal logging.
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The rufous coucal is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in Luzon and proximate islands in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. Along with the Philippine coucal, Black-faced coucal and the critically endangered Black-hooded coucal, it is one of the 4 endemic coucals.
The streak-breasted bulbul is a songbird species in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae.
The white-browed shama is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the islands of Luzon,Marinduque and the Polillo Islands. The Visayan shama, formerly considered a subspecies, was split as a distinct species in 2021.
The white-vented shama is a species of bird in the chat and flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Palawan, Balabac and Calamian in the Philippines. Along with the Black shama, White-browed shama and Visayan shama are the four endemic shamas of the country.
The blackish cuckooshrike or the blackish cicadabird or Luzon graybird, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Luzon, Catanduanes, Marinduque and Cebu where it is presumed extinct. Some taxonomists place this species in the genus Analisoma.Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest where it is believed to be declining due to habitat loss.
The black-bibbed cicadabird or black-bibbed cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. The species is elusive and poorly known. This species has five subspecies that differ considerably in plummage, it is possible that this may actually be a species complex and consists of multiple species.
The white-winged cuckooshrike, also known as white-winged cicadabird or white-winged graybird, is a species of bird in the family Campephagidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found on the islands of Negros, Panay and formerly on Guimaras. Some taxonomists place this species in the genus Analisoma.
The pygmy flowerpecker is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.
The Visayan broadbill is a species of bird in the family Eurylaimidae where it was previously conspecific with the wattled broadbill. It is endemic to the islands of Samar, Leyte and Bohol in the central Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The furtive flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on the island of Luzon.
The white-lored oriole is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is endemic to Luzon island (Philippines). It was formerly conspecific with the Philippine oriole but has since been separated as its own species. It was also formerly theorized that the critically endangered Isabela oriole was this species until it was rediscovered and proven otherwise.
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The Mindanao boobook or Mindanao hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae that is endemic to the Philippines on the island of Mindanao. It was previously known as a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other evidence suggested it a distinct species. It is found in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Cebu boobook or Cebu hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Philippines. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other data suggested placement in a distinct species.
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